Kelly Clarkson's fifth album delayed until September

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Fans anxiously awaiting Kelly Clarkson’s fifth album will have to wait just a little longer.

According to a recent post on the singer’s official Facebook page, the currently untitled album’s release has been delayed until September 2011.

“I recently found out that my album won’t be coming out until September ....the album has been recorded but I can’t release it until then,” the original “American Idol” wrote March 15. “I realize that is a long time but that’s the best time to release it apparently so I‘m sorry for the wait but I promise you it sounds great!”

Clarkson, whose duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Jason Aldean currently tops Billboard’s Country Songs chart, has kept fans in the loop about the progress of her upcoming album via Facebook. On February 14, the Texas songstress said she was slated to record the set’s final song on February 25, “then we will be releasing the album.”

The “My Life Would Suck Without You Singer” also revealed on her official Facebook last month that the album was influenced by artists including Prince, Radiohead, Tina Turner, Sheryl Crow, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. However, she assured country listeners: “There’s a little bit of a country vibe/influence on a couple of songs.”

Overall, Clarkson called it a “great pop record,” on which she worked with producers and songwriters including Steve Jordan, Eric Hutchinson, Rodney Jerkins, Howard Benson and Toby Gad.

An announcement of the album’s official release date is expected soon, according to a statement from Sony Music.

Clarkson’s previous release, 2009’s “All I Ever Wanted,” became her second No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, residing atop the chart for two weeks and selling 913,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.